Dispenser



March 14, 1933. P. H. HoRwlTT DISPENSER Filed-Jan. 17, 1930 PatentedMar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL H. HORWITT, OFSPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MENASHA AEROIYU'C'ISCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN DISPENSERApplication led January 17, 1930. Serial No. 421,336.

lhis invention relates to a dispenser and more particularly to a devicefor dispensing folded articles, such as napkins, toilet paper, towels,and the like. The more common type of dispensers for folded papernapkins for use in restaurants, and the like, is a cabinet which isadapted to be placed upon the top-of a table or counter. A dispenser ofthe cabinet type, while in general satisfactory, is often unsightly inappearance and is subject to the disadvantage that it may be easilymoved from its normal position or even knocked off from the supportingtable or bench onto the floor.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dispensingdevice of the builtin type that may be inconspicuously mounted in thefront wall of a table, counter, bench,

or the like, in a place convenient to the user.

It isa further important object of this invention to provide a dispenserfor folded articles and more particularly paper napkins wherein thecontainer for the folded ar# ticles may be bodily removed from thesupporting frame of the dispenser by releasing a normally concealedcatch or lock. I

It is a. further important object of this invention to provide in adispenser a drawer that is readily removable therefrom and that is inthe shape of a scoop to facilitate the refilling of the drawer.

Other andfurther important objects 0f this invention'will becomeapparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanyingdrawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 isa fragmentary front elevational view of a table, bench,counter, or the like, showing a. dispenser embodying the principles ofmy invention mounted in the front wall thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the dispenser as a separate unit.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on lineIII-,III of Figure 2, witlrthe drawer partially removed to show itsoperation.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2,

wall of the dispenser is substantially flush' with the wall 11 of thetable and the articles to be dispensed, in this case folded napkins 13,may be readily removed through a dispensing window 14 pose.

The dispenser 12 comprises a casing l5 and a drawer 16 normallypositioned within said casing 15 but removable outwardly therefromthrough a front opening 17 in said casing 15.. The casing 15 is ofgenerally rectangular cross section and is suitablyk formed from stampedsheet metal. The body portion of the casing 15 may suitably be formed ofa single sheet bent to provide a bottom wall 18, side walls 19 and 20,and relatively narrow flanges 21 and 22 ex- 23 is riveted or otherwisesecured to the provided for the pur-- body of the casing. The bottomwall 18 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 24 and theflanges 21 and 22 are similarly provided with upwardly extending flanges25 yand 26, all lying inthe same plane and adapted to be secured to aplate 27 that forms the ornamental front of the casing. When positionedin place, the front wall 27 of the casing is adapted to lie against thefront wall l1 of the supporting table or other structure. 4

The drawer l-is of such shape and size as to be slidable within thecasing 15. Said drawer 16 is further preferably made in the form of ascoop, open at its top and back end. A front wall 28 is brazedorotherwise secured to the body portion of the its forward end as drawer16, said wall 28 being provided with a dispensing window 29 throughwhich the articles, in this case napkins, may be readily withdrawn.Outwardly curved flanges 3() and 31 are provided along the top andbottom marginal edges of said window 29 to facilitate the withdrawal ofthe folded napkins without causing them to catch or tear. Although thenapkins 13 here illustrated are rectangular in shape and provided withrectangular shaped tabs or ends 32 for grasping by the user, it will beunderstood that other forms of folded napkins may be used and that theshape and design of the dispensing window 29 may be varied accordingly.

An expansible means, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 33,is provided within the casing 15 for urging the napkins 13 toward thefront end of the drawer 16. Said expansible means 33 comprise a pair ofsprings 34 and 35 each formed from separate bands of spring metal joinedtogether at their ends as at 36 in zigzag fashion, the rear end of thesprings being secured as at 37 and 38 to the rear wall 23 of the casing15. The front ends of the springs 34 and 35 are secured to a plate 39 ofsubstantially the same dimensions as the inner dimensions of the drawer16. It is thus apparent that the normal tendency of the springs 34 and35 is to push the plate 39 against the stack of napkins 13 to urge thenapkins toward the'front end of the dispenser. In order to prevent theplate 39 from being forced out of the open end of the casing 15 when thedrawer 16 is removed, a chain 40 is secured thereto, as at 41 and 42 andto the rear wall 23 of the casing 15 as at 43. The length of the chain40 is such thatit prevents forward movement of the plate 39 beyond theend of the casing 15.. v i

Means are provided for releasably retaining the drawer 16 within thecasing 15 and these means suitably take the form of cooperative members45 and 44 secured to the inside ofthe front wall 28 of the drawer 16 andto a plate 46 extending across the top of the casing 15, respectively.The member 45 comprises an angle piece secured as at 47 to the wall 28on the inside thereof and provided with an upturned iange 48. The member44 comprises a plate loosely secured to the plate 46 by means of rivets49 and provided with a downturned flanged edge 50 for engaging theupturned flanged edge 48 of the member 45. The rivets, or headed members49 extend through enlarged openings 51 (Figure 5) in the member 44 topermit said member 44 to be tilted upwardly at shown in dott-ed lines.In operation, the drawer pulled outwardly aft-er rst releasing thecooperating locking members 44 and 45 by 16 may thus be`- inserting afinger inside the dispensing window 29 and raising the member 44 untilthe cooperating flanges 48 and 50 are disengaged.

One of the principal advantages of a. dispenser of the type described isthat it can 4 be conveniently located in a position readily accessibleto the user of the articles to be dispensed while at the same time beingNinconspicuous and out of the way. It 1s also an advantage to be able toremove the drawer completely from the casing and use it as a scoop torefill the dispenser. The normally concealed locking device preventsunauthorized tampering with the dispenser.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and Itherefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art. Y

I claim as my invention: l

In a dispenser, a casing having a rear wall, a follower plate, springmeans to urge said plate towards the front of said casing, and means tolimit forward movement of said plate, said limitingmeans comprising achain anchored at the middle thereof on a hook centrally positionedonsaid rear plate and having the two, ends thereof secured,respectively, to points adjacent thel upper end lower margins of saidplate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty, Illinois. V

- v PAUL I'I. I-IORWITT.

